Start closest to the building.
CAL FIRE’s defensible-space guidance recommends removing dead vegetation and creating appropriate separation around structures. Pay particular attention to the first five feet and material that could ignite from embers.
The right spacing and work area depend on terrain and local fire-agency requirements. Equipment work can support a vegetation-management plan; it cannot guarantee wildfire protection or certify a property’s compliance.
Brush & vegetation removal
Identify what should be removed, what should stay and how cleared material will be handled. Share the approximate area, access width and slope when discussing a job. Schedule mechanical vegetation work with attention to weather and ignition risk; CAL FIRE advises avoiding mowing during hot or windy conditions.
Ditches, drainage & road work
Maintenance can affect how water moves across a property. Before altering a ditch or drainage feature, establish where it connects and whether any approvals are needed.
CDFW’s Lake and Streambed Alteration Program explains that changing a stream’s flow, bed, channel or bank may require notification, including for seasonally dry waterways. Not every ditch is a regulated stream, but calling work “maintenance” does not settle the question.
What to share with Ziggy
- Location and the equipment task
- Approximate area and access conditions
- Buildings, fences, utilities and irrigation nearby
- Existing drainage and any agency guidance
- Timing and what should happen to cleared material
Common questions
Where should defensible-space work start?
Start with the buildings and the area closest to them, then consider dead vegetation, plant separation, slope and access. Follow CAL FIRE guidance and your local fire agency’s requirements.
Can equipment work guarantee wildfire protection?
No. Vegetation work can support a defensible-space plan, but no clearing service can guarantee protection from wildfire. The plan needs to consider structures, terrain and local requirements.
Can a ditch be cleared without checking approvals?
Check first. Some ditches connect to waterways, and changes to a stream’s flow, bed, channel or bank may require notification to CDFW. Seasonal dryness does not automatically remove those requirements.
Working in a vineyard?
For selected vine and root removal, read our Mendocino vineyard removal planning guide. Diagnosis and replanting decisions should come from your grower or vineyard adviser.